Thursday, February 17, 2011

Rays Minor League Spring Training Schedule

The Rays have not released their minor league spring training schedule yet, but two divisional teams (Orioles and Twins) have. Using process of elimination, here is how the spring schedule looks. Any changes will be made as they are released.

[Updated to add from the Comments]: Also for those of you heading to Port Charlotte for minor league spring training, I attached a travel guide to Claw Digest with directions and information on the away games for the Rays minor league clubs once games get started. If you have not seen it, here is the information:

Rays MiLB: The Rays minor league games are held on the backfields of Charlotte Sports Park at 2300 El Jobean Road in Port Charlotte. When the major league club is on the road or off, plenty of parking is available in the parking lot to the stadium. If there is a game in the stadium, you can either deal with the crowd and pay to park in the stadium or limited streetside parking is available along Ester Avenue to the north side of the training complex. You can reach Ester Avenue from the side street by the Harley Davidson dealership on El Jobean Rd east of the stadium.

Orioles MiLB: The Orioles affiliates play their spring games at the Buck O’Neil Complex at Twin Lakes Park located at 6700 Clark Road in Sarasota, Florida. The complex is approximately 35 miles from Charlotte Sports Park and will take about 45 minutes to get there on a normal day. From Charlotte Sports Park head east on El Jobean Road until Toledo Blade Blvd. Turn left on Toledo Blade Blvd towards I-75. Once you reach I-75, head north until Exit 205 (Clark Road). After exiting at Clark Road, head east on Clark Road and Twin Lakes Park is located about a half mile from the interstate.

Twins MiLB: The Twins affiliates hold their spring training games at the Lee County Sports Complex located at 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers. It is a 55 mile trip that will take a little over an hour. From Charlotte Sports Park head east on El Jobean Road until Toledo Blade Blvd. Turn left on Toledo Blade Blvd towards I-75. Once you reach I-75, head south until you reach Exit 131 (SW Florida International Airport/Cape Coral). Head west on Daniels Parkway until you reach Six Mile Cypress. Make a left onto Six Mile Cypress and the complex will be about a mile away from the intersection.

Red Sox MiLB: The Red Sox hold their minor league games at the Red Sox Player Development Complex at 4301 Edison Avenue in Fort Myers. The trip is about 45 miles and will take just under an hour to complete. From Charlotte Sports Park head east on El Jobean Road until Toledo Blade Blvd. Turn left on Toledo Blade Blvd towards I-75. Once you reach I-75, head south until you reach Exit 138 (Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd). Head west on MLK until Rockfill Road. Turn left on Rockfill Rd and take the first left onto Edison Avenue. The complex is about a quarter mile from the intersection.

Thank you so much for posting this schedule. We'll be there!I, too, wonder about Tampa Bay's minor league free agents/releases like Royster, Sonoqui, Fuller, Ayers etc. FYI- Matt Fields will be playing for Joliet Slammers.

Daniel, I am glad you liked the Q&A with Tyler. I am working on the next piece which will run shortly.

Also for those of you heading to Port Charlotte for minor league spring training, I attached a travel guide to Claw Digest with directions and information on the away games for the Rays minor league clubs once games get started. If you have not seen it, here is the information:

Rays MiLB: The Rays minor league games are held on the backfields of Charlotte Sports Park at 2300 El Jobean Road in Port Charlotte. When the major league club is on the road or off, plenty of parking is available in the parking lot to the stadium. If there is a game in the stadium, you can either deal with the crowd and pay to park in the stadium or limited streetside parking is available along Ester Avenue to the north side of the training complex. You can reach Ester Avenue from the side street by the Harley Davidson dealership on El Jobean Rd east of the stadium.

Orioles MiLB: The Orioles affiliates play their spring games at the Buck O’Neil Complex at Twin Lakes Park located at 6700 Clark Road in Sarasota, Florida. The complex is approximately 35 miles from Charlotte Sports Park and will take about 45 minutes to get there on a normal day. From Charlotte Sports Park head east on El Jobean Road until Toledo Blade Blvd. Turn left on Toledo Blade Blvd towards I-75. Once you reach I-75, head north until Exit 205 (Clark Road). After exiting at Clark Road, head east on Clark Road and Twin Lakes Park is located about a half mile from the interstate.

Twins MiLB: The Twins affiliates hold their spring training games at the Lee County Sports Complex located at 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers. It is a 55 mile trip that will take a little over an hour. From Charlotte Sports Park head east on El Jobean Road until Toledo Blade Blvd. Turn left on Toledo Blade Blvd towards I-75. Once you reach I-75, head south until you reach Exit 131 (SW Florida International Airport/Cape Coral). Head west on Daniels Parkway until you reach Six Mile Cypress. Make a left onto Six Mile Cypress and the complex will be about a mile away from the intersection.

Red Sox MiLB: The Red Sox hold their minor league games at the Red Sox Player Development Complex at 4301 Edison Avenue in Fort Myers. The trip is about 45 miles and will take just under an hour to complete. From Charlotte Sports Park head east on El Jobean Road until Toledo Blade Blvd. Turn left on Toledo Blade Blvd towards I-75. Once you reach I-75, head south until you reach Exit 138 (Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd). Head west on MLK until Rockfill Road. Turn left on Rockfill Rd and take the first left onto Edison Avenue. The complex is about a quarter mile from the intersection.

You sure did your homework about minor league spring training- and we appreciate that. We will be there. Will you? FYI-Elias Otero will be playing in the Puerto Rican league. The team begins with O. Orocovis???- not sure if that's it. Do you know of any sites that report on that league? I'm having trouble finding it online.

I went ahead and added Jim's directions to the front page so no one misses the great info.

If anyone else has any tips about any of the four parks, list them here. Good places to park, best/worst seat locations, places to eat in the area around the park, other sites to visit in the area (in case you bring the family), etc.

If you go to the Twins, and the major league team is home, after 9 AM you have to pay to park. You might talk your way past the lot attendant saying you're going to the minor lg game, but that does not always work.

I wouldn't count on a Rays MiLB spring training schedule until the last minute. The past few years, I had to piece together the schedule using opponents schedules because they never formally released on. I would not expect anything to come out until around when MLB camp opens. When something comes along, we will pass it along.